Sloan will miss Spurs game on Friday night

Veteran Utah coach Jerry Sloan will miss Friday’s game against the Spurs in Salt Lake City to attend the funeral of a family member.

The team announced that Sloan will be missing in a tweet released earlier this afternoon.

Longtime assistant Phil Johnson will assume the team’s head-coaching duties against the Spurs on Friday and Portland on Saturday during Sloan’s absence. He is expected to return in time to coach the Jazz in their home game Monday night against Sacramento.

Sloan has missed just 16 games during his 23 seasons coaching the Jazz.

Utah also announced that forward C.J. Miles (strained lower back) visited a chiropractor earlier this morning and will not practice today. He will be a gametime decision against the Spurs.

Center Al Jefferson (sore lower back) and forward Paul Millsap (severe head cold) also will not practice today, but are both probable against the Spurs.